Wire forming apparatus



Nov. l, 1955 1 TALBOT WIRE FORMING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet l .N WN ma NWN mwN NNN INN@ m M..., l o o WL. M NNI m NN W NNN www o ||||1||||||||-, L l i TQ. un NW H wh tu- R. w wm. t- Nm, ,l 1 AH HJ w Il ll h. \\Q..w u Q T z 1 no' N l u. Nm. QN. w Q% Nn W H w IH: o wl A SW Ql @kN U WN W d l H n m l Nov. l, 1955 TALBOT 21,722,242

WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Filed OCT.. 26, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 N J\ x MN w n 1+ 260g/Li Nov. l, 1955 l.. TALBOT WIRE FORMING APPARATUS 9 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 26, 1951 Ww Om] Nov. l, 1955 TALBOT 2,722,242

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WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 ,`Y Il "Il i uw f y .2m im w' if iwlf, :H: mi: Hlm J0 0 102 mi 64 W /W/ A T- 4 ya 100 r j It m- 74 955 .56 l 955% 35 A 52- l M J? 60 Y .y

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WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 tyfaf Nov. 1, 1955 TALBOT 2,722,242

WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 26, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 Nov. 1, 1955 TALBOT 24,722,242

WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Filed 001'.. 26, 1951 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 5/ f $1/ l RETURN WELDING CLAMP cYLmPER I f WELDER EJECTOR Quai/fand .g l jyg 7 198 a @e United States Patent WIRE FORMING APPARATUS Lloyd Talbot, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cedar Rapids Block Co., a corporation of Iowa Application October 26, 1951, Serial No. 253,271 Claims. (Cl. 140-71) This invention relates to awire forming apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for forming wire into a pattern and securing such patterned wire to at least one other wire, said apparatus being so constructed and arranged as to be automatically operable in predetermined cycles progressively to form a continuous length of wire into a pattern and to secure the formed wire to at least one other continuous length of wire.

It is the general object of this invention to produce a new and improved wire forming apparatus.

It is a more speciiic object of this invention to produce a Wire forming apparatus which includes means for bending a first continuous length of wire into a pattern and then guiding the bent wire into contact with a second wire and to provide such an apparatus with means for securing the two wires together at their point of contact.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a wire forming apparatus which is provided with guide means for guiding two continuous lengths of wire in spaced parallel relationship across the apparatus and to provide bending means on such apparatus adapted to bend a third length of wire into a pattern having a diameter at least equal to the space between said parallel wires and to provide such apparatus with means for securing the bent wire to each of the two spaced wires at their points of contact.

A further feature of the invention is the provision in a wire forming apparatus of the type described in the preceding paragraphs with means for feeding wire to the bending means and the securing means and means for operating the bending and securing means in cyclical relationship to the operation of the feeding means to provide an apparatus capable of automatic continuous operation.

An additional feature of the invention is the provision of bending means for bending a continuous length of substantially straight wire into a pattern, the bending means including a pair of arms pivotally connected together at their ends and provided with means for retaining a length of wire thereon, together with power-operated means for moving the arms from a first position in vwhich they are linearly aligned to a second position in which they are angularly aligned whereby to bend a length of wire held in the retaining means thereon into substantially the shape of a V.

A further feature of the invention is to provide bending means of the type described in the preceding paragraph with means for overbending the wire at each angle of the V to an extent whereby the natural resiliency of the wire will spring the bent wire back into the desired V shape.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of power-operated release means for releasing wire from the bending means at the termination of the bending operation.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of release means of the type described in the preceding paragraph which may take the form of plungers located substantially at the pivotal axis of the arms together with a 2,722,242 Patented Nov. 1, 1955 Fig. 1B is an enlarged detail view of the underside of the wires shown in Fig. 1A;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the feed mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the feed mechanism shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of Fig. 1 showing the bending means in two positions;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, partially in section, of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail view of one end of the bending mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is a view like Fig. 7 showing the bending mechanism in another position;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section along line 9 9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail view of the other end of the bending mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a vertical section taken through the central portion of the bending mechanism showing the release alongiine 11-11 of means located at the point of connection of the two bend-v ing arms to each other;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation, partially in section, of one end of the bending mechanism showing the release means located thereat;

Fig. 14 is a view showing certain details of the timing and synchronizing mechanism;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the apparatus showing further details of the timing mechamsm;

Fig. 16 is a side elevation showing the shut-cfrr mechanism for the apparatus;

Fig. 17 is a vertical section taken through the welding means provided on the top of the apparatus;

Fig. 18 is a horizontal plan view substantially along line 18-18 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a diagrammatic view of the cycles of the apparatus; and

Fig. 20 is a schematic diagram of the timing and power means for operating the various devices of the apparatus.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplication of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the bending apparatus of this invention comprises generally a framework 30 which may consist of angle irons 31 welded together at their junctures to form a table-like support having legs 32 for supporting the same above a base or lloor 33. Mounted on the top of the framework are the wire forming means of the apparatus which include feed means generally designated A for feeding a continuous length of wire 34 in to a bending means generally designated B and for leading the bent wire (which, for the purpose of distinguishing it from the unbent wire is designated 35) to means generally designated C for securing the bent wire to two continuous lengths of substantially straight wire 36 and 37. Means generally designated D' are provided for synchronizing the operation of various means just described in predetermined cyclical relationship to provide for continuous operation of the apparatus. Thus one of the features of the present apparatus is the provision of means whereby the two continuous lengths of wire 36 and 37 are guided in spaced parallel relationship across the top of the frame to a positionV beneath the securing means C (which may take the form of the welding apparatus illustrated) there to be welded to contacting portions of a third wire 35 whichrhas been bent into the form illustrated by the bending means B.

While in the embodiment of the invention chosen for illustration, the nal product of the apparatus isa reinforcing wire member adapted for use in` the construction of masonry walls using cement blocks as shown in U. S. Patent 2,300,181 issued to Harold L. Spaight on October 27, 1942, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the general principles of the invention may be applied to the construction of bendable materials taking other forms, and hence it is not intended thatthe invention be limited to an apparatus for forming the; particular type of wire device disclosed.

As best shown in Figs. l to 4, the feed meansA include a pair of feed dogs designated 40V and 41, which are. substantially identical in design. Thus the feed dog 40 is provided with a vertical plate 42 to which are pivotally secured a plurality of uni-directional dog teeth 43 urged into engagement with the wire 37 by springs 44. The dog teeth 43 engage the wire as it rests upon a horizontal block 45 secured to the plate 42. The feed. dogs 40 and 41 are each mountedl on` a vertically upstanding arm, such as the arm 46 (Fig. 4), which is secured to a` horizontal arm 47 slidably mounted upon a rod 481which eX- tends longitudinally under the top of the. frame. The arm 47 is adjustably secured by means of a set screw 49 to a rod 50 which extends horizontally substantially across the entire frame and which is secured intermediate its ends tothe piston in a pneumatic pistonand cylinder motor 51. Thus operation of the motor 51v serves to reciprocate the rod 50 and hence the feed dogsl 40 and 41 longitudinally of the machine.

The feed dog,40 serves` intermittently tol advance the wire 37 and hence the wires 35 and 36as they are secured to that wire while the feed dog 41 moves the wire- 34; the wire whichultimately becomes the bent wir,e3.5, into the bending means B.

In order toA preventthe wires from moving,,oppositely to the feeding direction when the feed dogs,40,- andV 41.V

aremoved on their return strokes, afbtedI dog352 constructed similarly to the dogs 40 and-411 is;provided `at theleft-handend, (as seen in- Fig. 1) ofthe;frame and engages the wire 37 to prevent back-slippageofthe wires..

As,best seenin ligs.` 15, 6 and7, the-bendingpmeans B includesarst arm 60 pivoted at one endv61-V to theframeof themachine and pivotally connected at itsother end 62,to the end63 of a second arm 64.

Toi provide, such pivotal mounting for thearms, the arm 60,` (see Figs. and 1,1) is provided at its end 61 with ari-opening 66 rotatablyr engaging a bearing post 67 fixedjn the framework. The arm 64 (see Figs. Brand 9) is rotatably mounted about a bearing post 68'provided in a block 69 slidablysupported in guidesv70 secured to the frame.

Integrally secured to the arm 64 yis a powerarm 71pivotallyV securedto-a pistonrod 72 secured to the pistonin apneumatic` piston and cylinder device 73r Reciproca-` tionofgthepiston within the piston and cylinder device 73A seri/esto flexthe bending-kneeformedbyv the arms 60` and64 fr om the position shown insolid linesin-Fig.l 4 to the positionshown in `dotted lines to bend. a-length of wire` held ytherein into substantiallyy the, shape of a .V.-

Means areprovidedon each-arm-for retaining a length of Wire thereinduring the bending operation, the means taking the form of spaced blocks, all indicated by the reference numeral 74', provided on each of the arms, the spacing of the blocks being such as to retain the wire therebetween and on the arms during the bending operation.

Means are provided for releasing or ejecting a bent wire from the bending means at the completion of the bending operation so that the bent wire is free of the retaining means to be advanced with reciprocation of the feed means. The release. means for the arm takes the form of a at horizontal plate which, as best shown in Fig. 13, is positioned as to overlie the arm 60 and to carry the wire 35 thereon during the bending operation.

The plate is so proportioned as to lie intermediate the wire and the arm at all positions of the arm during the bending operation. The plate 80 is mounted for vertical movement upon a piston rod 81 secured to the piston in a pneumatic piston and cylinder device 82 so that introduction of compressed air into the pneumatic motor 82 serves to move the platevertically to lift a length of wire 35 out of the space between the blocks 74.

A second ejector or release mechanism is provided aty the pivotal juncture of the arms 60 and 64, this latter device being shown in section in Fig. 12. Inspection4 of that figure reveals that the post 85, which is rotatably received in an opening 86 formed in one end of ther arm 64 and which supports about its outer surface a bearing` 87 rotatably received in an opening 88 in the arm 60, is provided with a central vertical cylinder 89 in which a plunger 90 is4 reciprocable. The plunger is constantly urged downwardly by a compression spring 91 which bears againstA a head 92 secured to the lower end of the plunger 90 and against a head 93 formed on a guide member 94` threadably secured in the post 85. The plunger is provided with an elongated notch 95, the ends` of which are adapted to be engaged by a pin 96 to prevent the plunger 90 from dropping out of the opening 89. A rod 100 is positionedvertically beneath the location of the head 92` when the arms are in the exed position and is secured to a piston in a piston and cylinder device 101 so as to be projected upwardly by the introduction of air into the device to strike the head 92 and hence to move the plunger 90 upwardly into contact with the bent'wire 35 at the p ivot point between the arms 60 and 64. The

head 92 is made somewhat enlarged to insure that;A the rod 100.will strike it eventhough slight variations occur in the locationof the plunger 90 as thearms are flexed. An annularretainer housing 102 surrounds the4 p ost 85 andisfwelded` to that portion ofthe arm 60 in which: the opening 88Y is provided. A second annular housing 103. is welded tothe outer surface of the housing 102 and is provided withan opening 104 in one side thereof to'permit the housingto slide over` the pin 100 as the arms are; exed..

To release the, bentr wire from the retainingmeansprovidedatl the right-,hand end (asvseen in' Fig. 1) of the arm 64, the post 68. is provided with a central vertical cylinder 105 in which an ejector pin 106 is reciprocably retained. by astop 107 which protrudes into a slot 108 formedin the pin 106. The lower end of the pinisprovided with a head portion 109 adapted to be engaged by anejector rod 110 securedto the piston in another piston and cylinder device 111. The function of thislatter device isthe same as.the device 101 and the similarity.- in

the mounting ,of the pins 90 and106 is believed apparent from the` drawings.

Inasmuch as the wire to be bent possesses considerable resiliency itis necessary that it bebent beyond the ultimately desired form in orderA that uponA releaseof the tension of the,.bendingl machineit may assumethernal Such overbending means rnust desired shape or pattern.

be .providedforeach angle of ;the.pattern. In thel'exeml plary embodiment chosenforillustration, thewire :is .bentt into a series of `Vs1and hence overbendingmeans :for over.-l

bendng the wire at three places, namely at each angle of the V, are provided.

Referring now to Figs. l0 and ll, the overbending means for the end 61 of the arm 60 includes a small substantially triangularly shaped block 115 secured by a screw device 116 to a projection 117 formed on a collar 118 which surrounds the pin 67, the collar being rotatably mounted on the outer surface of a sleeve bearing 119. Means are provided for rotating the collar 118 at the end of the bending operation so as to overbend the wire at the angle a. To this end the collar 118 is provided with a shoulder portion 120 adapted to be engaged by one end of a lever 121 rotatably mounted on a post 122 fixed to the frame of the machine. The arm is provided with a threaded lug 123 which carries a bolt 124 positioned as to contact one end of the lever 121 so as to rotate the lever about the post 122 to cause the other end thereof to contact the shoulder and rotate the collar 118. A lock nut 125 is provided on the bolt 124 so that the position thereof may be adjusted to tit the needs of the operation. Thus as the bending knee formed by the arms 60 and 64 approaches the end'of its bending stroke the lever 121 is rotated into contact with the shoulder on the collar to rotate the same, the rotation serving to bring the block 115 into contact with the portion of the wire closely adjacent the end 61 to overbend the wire at the angle 35a.

Overbending means are also provided at the opposite end of the arm 64. As best shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the sliding block 69 is provided with a vertical sleeve bearing which rotatably supports a post 131 which is integrally formed at its upper end into a crank having a first arm 132, positioned to lie closely adjacent the wire 34, and a second arm 133 extending substantially at right angles therefrom. Threadably received in a block 134 (Fig. 5) mounted on the frame is a bolt 136 positioned to contact the free end of the arm 133 as the bending knee is eXed to the position shown in the dotted lines in that gure.

Contact between the arm 133 and the bolt 136 rotates the crank to bring the arm 132 into contact with the wire to overbend the same at the angle 3511 of the V. A lock nut 137 is provided for the bolt 136 so that minor adjustments in position thereof may be made.

An overbend at the apex of the V is obtained by ilexing the bending knee formed by the arms 60 and 64 beyond the desired nal shape of the wire and then releasing the same. The means provided for the overbending at the apex of the V are best illustrated in Fig. l and include a rod 140 slidably held on the frame in bearings 141 and 142. As the rod 72 is reciprocated under the influence of the motor 73, the end thereof contacts one end of the rod 140 to slide the same in its bearings until its lefthand end 143 contacts an adjustable stop 144 secured to the frame. Such contact with the stop limits the travel of the rod 170 and hence the degree of liexing of the bending knee. During the travel of the rod 140 as it is moved by the rod 72 a collar 145 secured to the rod contacts one end of a compression spring 146 whose other end bears against the bearing 141 and serves to compress the same. When power is released from the piston and cylinder device 73, the spring 146 moves the rod 140 and hence the rod 72 a short distance in the direction of the return stroke to reduce the degree of flex of the bending knee and thus to permit release or ejection of the wire held therein. The degree of overbending at the apex 35 or of the wire is, of course, determined by the position of the adjustable stop 144.

As previously noted, means C are provided for securing the bent wire 35 to each of the wires 36 and 37. In the embodiment illustrated of the invention, the securing means takes the form of a welding device adapted to weld the Wires together at their points of contact.

As best seen in Fig. 17, the welding device includes a pair of welding electrodes 150 and 151 mounted upon a crossbar 152 secured to an insulating plate153 of hard rubber or other dielectric material. Thevplate 153 is secured at its center Ato a metal collar 154 which in turn is secured to a rod 155 through the medium of an insulating sleeve 156. The rod 155 secured to the piston of a piston and cylinder device 157 is adapted upon reciprocation of the piston therein to raise and lower the electrodes 150 and 151. v

Mounted in the frame beneath the electrodes 150 and 151 is a second pair of electrodes 160 and 161. Suitable electrical connections 162 and 163 for each pair of electrodes are provided as illustrated. Insulating material 164 is provided on the frame adjacent each of the lower electrodes to maintain the electrodes separated from each other in the event no wire is in position to be welded at the time the upper pair of electrodes 150 and 151 are lowered. Such condition may occur on the start-up of the machine during which start-up these electrodes are raised and lowered in timed sequential relationship to the operation of the feed and bending means as hereinafter described. The insulating material 164 extends partially over the lower electrodes and is of sucient thickness to maintain the electrodes separated in the event no wire is present but insufficient to prevent contact between the electrodes and the wire should the operation of the machine have progressed to such a point as to position the wires under the welding apparatus.

Clamping means are provided to maintain the Wire in proper position during the welding operation to maintain the spaced parallel wires 36 and 37 in correct position overlying the bent wire 35 and in contact therewithas illustrated in Fig. 1A. As best seen in Figs. l and 2, the clamping means includes a pair of clamps and 171 located adjacent the welding means and positioned to contact the wires and hold them in the relationship described. Each of the clamps include a foot portion adapted to contact the wire, the foot portions being se-l cured to vertically upstanding posts 172 and 173.respec tively with each post being connected to a piston in a pneumatic piston and cylinder device 174 and 175. Air introduced into the piston and cylinder devices just described serves to depress the foot portions of the clamp and hold the same against the wires to maintain the wires stationary during the welding operation.A Upon cornpletion of the welding operation the clamps are lifted t permit further feeding of the wires.

Immediately adjacent each of the vclamps 170 and 171 are guide means and 181 in the form of arcuately curved members which serve to insure that the wires 36 and 37 are properly spaced as they are fed into the clamp-l ing means and into the welding device. Additional guide means 182 is provided on the frame to the left of the welding means to hold the welded wires in proper position as they are fed off the left-hand end of the machine.

The timing means D which are located on the lower portion of thel frame comprise a drive motor connected by a chain and sprocket arrangement 191 to a rotatably mounted timing shaft 192 which carries a plurality of timing cams 193--198. Each of the timing cams is contacted by a cam follower 199-204 'riding on the surface thereof. Each cam follower is mounted in the manner illustrated in Fig. 14 which shows the cam follower arrangement for the cam 195. Thus the follower 201 is pivotally mounted at 205 upon an arm 206 provided in a valve mechanism 207. The opposite end 208 of the cam follower is connected to a Valve actuating rod 209 adapted to open a pneumatic valve to directcompressed air into one of the several operating piston and cylinder devices previously described. A spring 210 is provided for the valve to constantly urge the valve toward closed position.

As shown in Figs. 19 and 20, the timing mechanism is so arranged as to permit continuous bending, welding and feeding operations so that the entire apparatus operates substantially automatically to fabricate the wire forms described. The cam 203 in operating its valve 207 directs air under pressure from arconduit 215 connected to a source of compressed air into a conduit 216 and thence into the clamp cylinders 174 and 175. The cam 194 through its associated valve directs air under pressure into a conduit 217 and thence into the piston and cylinder device 157 to lower the welding head. As the welding head is lowered and the pressure builds up within the cylinder 157 after contact has been made with the wires, the pressure is conducted from the cylinder 157 through a conduit 218 to a pressure responsive switch mechanism 219 which is equipped with a timer for timing the duration of current application to the electrodes of the Welder. Thus when sufficient pressure has been built up within the cylinder 157 so that firm contact between the electrodes and the wires is assured the pressure responsive switch 219 is actuated to apply electric current to the electrodes for a period sufcient to effect the weld.

The valve associated with the cam 195 is connected by means of the conduit 220 to the bend cylinder 73 to effect the bend of the wire 34 and the valve associated with the cam 197 is connected by means of a conduit 221 to the feed cylinder 51 for effecting the feed. The various ejector or releasing piston and cylinder devices previously described are connected by a plurality of suitable conduits, one of which is indicated at 222 to the valve associated with the cam 198 to provide for the ejection of the wires from the retaining means at'the end of the bending operation.

The cams are so constructed and arranged on the shaft 192 as to operate the apparatus in the cycle shown in Fig. 19. At the start of the operation the welding head and the clamps are in the up position and the cam 197 operates the valve 207m to introduce air into the feed cylinder to feed wire to the bending means and to the welding apparatus. At the same time the valve 207/; is operated by its cam 195 to return the bending knee to the position illustrated in solid lines in Fig. 5, that is with the arms linearly aligned for the reception of an additional length of wire to be bent. When the cams have rotated approximately 90 the bender is in the straight position and feeding has been accomplished.

At this time air is introduced to the other end of the feed cylinder to move the feed dogs on their return stroke preparatory to feeding an additional length of Wire. The bender is stationary at this time but after 30 more of rotation ofthe shaft 192 the cam 193 associated with the valve 207C operates that valve as to introduce air into the clamping cylinders 174 and 175 to bring the clamps down and hold the wire in stationary position. When the shaft has rotated 160 from its starting position the cam 197 associated with the feed cylinder valve is operated to introduce air into the opposite end of the feed cylinder to move the feed dogs on their return stroke. Simultaneously the valve 207b associated with the bending cylinder is operated by its cam 195 to introduce air into the other end of the bending cylinder to flex the bending knee from its wire receiving position in which the arms are linearly aligned to wire bending position where the arms are angularly aligned to bend, and finally to overbend, the wire as previously described. As one portion of the wire is being bent in the bending mechanism, air is introduced into the welding cylinder to lower the welding head to perform the welding operation on a previously bent portion of the wire and after the welding has been completed the welding head is again raised. The final step is to raise the clamps through the operation of the cam 193 and its associated valve which completes one cycle of operation. It is, of course, understood that the timing motor continues to drive so that a second cycle immediately follows thefirst cycle just described and so on. until the machineY is shut off.

It will be clear that it would be inconvenient to shut (ill o the machine at certain points in the cycle of operations. Thus it would be inconvenient to stop the operation of the machine when the clamping cylinders are down inasmuch as it would be difficult to remove wire from the apparatus. To this end there is provided means for permitting the machine to be shut off only at the conclusion of a complete cycle.

Referring to Figs. l5 and 16, there is shown a shutoff solenoid 225 which is provided with a stem 226 pivotally connected to a bell crank arm 227 pivoted at 228 to a portion of the frame of the machine. The other end 229 of the bell crank is adapted to be moved from the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 16 to the position shown in solid lines upon energization of the solenoid 225. When it is desired to shut off the machine the solenoid is energized through the electrical connection shown to move the arm 227 to the position shown in solid lines wherein the arm 229 is adapted to engage a shoulder portion 230 provided on a brake wheel 231 forming a part of a slip clutch assembly 232 through which the chain drive 191 is connected to the timing shaft 192. i

Thus if the solenoid 225 is energized at any time during the cycle of operations of the machine the arm 229 is brought into contact with the outer portion 233 of the brake wheel 231 and rides thereon as the same rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow until it engages the shoulder 230. The shoulder is so located as to engage the arm at the end of a complete cycle of the machine. This engagement between the shoulder and the arm stops the rotation of the shaft 192 and thus prevents the initiation of an ensuing cycle of the machine. The drive motor 190 will continue to operate through the slip clutch arrangement 232 which permits such operation until such time as the drive motor shall be shut off by the operator.

inasmuch as the bending and feeding means of this invention are so constructed as to operate continuously in successive cycles, it is contemplated that means will be provided adjacent the machine for cutting the continuous length of welded wire into sections of desired length. For this purpose a wire cutter, which may be in the form of a punch press type cutter, may be employed, and if the desired sections are not multiples of the length of each of the V s two such cutters may be employed and used alternately to secure the desired length and to facilitate stacking of the cut sections.

l claim:

l. An automatically operated wire shaping machine for forming a reinforcing material comprising a base having a horizontal top, guides on the top for guiding two continuous lengths of wire in spaced parallel relationship across the top, reciprocable feed means on the base including a device for engaging one of said wires to move the wire across the top, bending means on said top, said bending means including a pair of arms pivotally secured together at an end thereof with the other end of one of the arms being rotatably secured to the top to form a bending knee and including a motor on the base and connected to the other end of the other arm to flex the knee from a first position in which the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned to bend wire therein into substantially the shape of a V having a height substantially equal to the space between said parallel wires, another guide on the top for guiding a third continuous length of wire into the knee when the arms thereof are substantially linearly aligned, a welding device on the top, a motor for moving the welding means into Welding relationship with the spaced parallel wires at their points of contact with the bent wire, and timing means for cyclically operating said motors and said feed means.

2. Ina wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for flexing the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned by moving the other end of the second arm toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, means operating upon the ilexure of said knee to overbend the wire at each angle of the V, means for feeding a continuous length of wire to the bending means when the arms are linearly aligned, guide means on the frame for guiding two continuous lengths of wire in spaced parallel relationship across the frame with the space between said two wires being substantially equal to the height of said V, said guide means locating said two wires on either side of the bending knee whereby the bent portions of the first mentioned wire are contacted by each parallel wire, means on the frame for securing the bent wire to the parallel wires at the points of contact therewith, and means for continuously operating the flexing means, the feeding means and the securing means in cyclical relationship to bend a continuous length of wire into a series of Vs and to secure the bent wire to the parallel wires at each angle of each of the Vs.

3. An automatically operated wire shaping machine for forming a reinforcing material comprising a base having a horizontal top, guides on the top for guiding two continuous lengths of wire in spaced parallel relationship across the top, reciprocable feed means on the base including a device for engaging one of said wires to move the wire across the top, bending means on said top, said bending means including a pair of arms pivotally secured together at an end thereof with the other end of one of the arms being rotatably secured to the top to form a bending knee and including a motor on the base and connected to the other end of the other arm to flex the knee from a first position in which the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned to bend wire therein into substantially the shape of a V having a diameter substantially equal to the space between said parallel wires, another guide on the top for guiding a third continuous length of wire into the knee when the arms thereof are substantially linearly aligned, a welding device on the top intermediate the bending means and the feed means,

a motor for moving the welding means into welding relationship with the spaced parallel wires at their points of contact with the bent wire, clamping means including a plurality of clamps for holding the parallel wires in position in contact with the bent wire, a motor for moving the clamps against the wires, and timing means for cyclically operating said motors andsaid feed means.

4. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the base, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for flexing the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned by moving the other end of the second arm toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, means for overbending the wire including a crank carried by said other end of the second arm and positioned as to have one leg thereof closely adjacent a portion of the wire, a stop on the frame adapted to contact the other leg of the crank as the knee is flexed to rotate the crank to overbend said portion of the wire, a lug mounted on the frame for rotation about the pivotal axis of said first named end of the first arm, means on the first named arm for rotating the lug to bring the same into contact with another portion of the wire at said first named end to overbend the same as the knee is flexed,

. 10 and means for operating the flexing means to flex th knee beyond the desired V shape to overbend the wire at the apex of the V.

5. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the base, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for flexing the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned by moving the other end of the second arm toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, means for overbending the wire including a crank movable wit-h said other end of the second arm and positioned as to have one leg thereof closely adjacent a portion of the wire, a stop on the frame adapted to contact the other leg of the crank as the knee is flexed to rotate the crank to overbend said portion of the wire, a sleeve rotatably mounted on the frame and surrounding the pivotal axis of said first named end of the first arm, a lug on the sleeve, means on the first arm positioned to rotate the sleeve as the knee is flexed to bring the lug into contact with another portion of the wire at said first named end to overbend the same as the sleeve is rotated, means for operating the flexing means to flex the knee beyond the desired V shape to overbend the wire at the apex of the V, resilient means for returning the knee to the desired V shape to relieve the overbending means, and means for releasing a bent wire from the retaining means.

6. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the base, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for flexing the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned by moving the other end of the second arm toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, and means for overbending the wire including a crank movable with said other end of the second arm and positioned as to have one leg thereof closely adjacent a portion of the wire, a stop on the frame adapted to contact the other leg of the crank as the knee is flexed to rotate the crank to overbend said portion of the wire, a lug mounted on the frame for rotation about the pivotal axis of said first named end of the first arm, and means for rotating the lug to bring the same into Contact with another portion of the wire at said rst named end to overbend the same as the knee is flexed.

7. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the base, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for flexing the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to a second position in which the arms are angularly aligned by moving the other end of the second arm toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, means for feeding wire to the bending means, means operating upon each flexure of said knee to overbend the wire at each angle of the V, and automatic means for operating the flexing means and feeding means in sequential relationship to bend a continuous length of wire into a series of Vs.

8. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising a first arm pivoted at one end to the frame, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end 1 1 of the rst arm to form a bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining a length of wire thereon, power operated means for llexing the knee from a rst position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned to asecond position in which the arms are `angurariy aligned by moving nie other' efld ef the second arm toward the fist named end of the rst arm whereby to benda length of wire retained thereon into substantially the' `sh'ape of a V, means operating upon the enure of said knee to overbend the wire atV each angle of the 4\'l, a" guide plate overlying the first arm and normally positined below the retaining means thereon whereby said plate is positioned intermediate the` first arm and a length of wireV held in` the last mentioned retaining means, and ril'eans"` for` moving the plate outwardly of the arrn to release a bent wire from said retaining means.

W9. In a wire shaping machine having a frame, bending means comprising' a rst a'rxn pivoted at one end to the frame', a second arm pivoted at one end to the other end of the first' arm to form abending knee, means on the frame for feedingr three lengths of wire including means for feeding one of said lengths to the bending knee, means the ends of each arm for retaining thereon a length df wire fed thereto, power operated means for flexing the knee from av first position wherein the arms are substantially linearlyV alignedr to a second position in which the' ali-ins are `angiilarly aligned by moving the other end of the second arn towardY the rst named end of the first anni whereby to bend a length ofV wire retained thereon intovsxubstantially the shape of a V, means operating upon the ieiiure of said knee to overbend the wire at each angle ofthe V, a guideY plate overlying the rst arm and mounted for movement outwardly ofthe arm, said plate beingK noi'mally positioned below the retaining means thereon whereby said plate is positioned intermediate the iii-'st' anni and a length of wire held in the last-mentioned retaining means, said ,guide plate also being positioned below'at least one of the other wires fed by said feeding nea'ns, a plunger at each end of the second arm and movable to eject wire held in the retaining means thereon, and a plurality of piston and cylinder devices for moving the plate and the plungers.

10. Ina wire shaping machine having a frame, bending? means comprising a rst arm pivoted at one end to the' frame, a second arm pivoted at one end to the other endy of the first arm to form ahbending knee, means on the. frame' for feeding three lengths of wire including means for feeding one of said lengths to the bending knee, means on the ends of each arm for retaining thereon a length of wire fed thereto, a block slidably mounted on the frame and rotatably carrying the other end of the second arm, a pneumatic piston and cylinder device for sliding the block to ex the knee from a first position wherein the arms are substantially linearly aligned toca second position in which the arms are `angu-` larly aligned by sliding the block toward the first named end of the first arm whereby to bend a length of wire retained thereon into substantially the shape of a V, means operating upon the exure of said knee to overbend the wire at each angle of the V, a guide plate` overlying the rst arm and mounted for movement outwardly of the arm, said plate being normally positioned below the retaining means thereon whereby said plate is positioned intermediate the rst arm and a length of wireA held in the last-mentioned retaining means, said guide plate also being positioned below at least one of the other wires fed by said feeding means, a plunger at each end of the second arm and movable to eject wire held in the retaining means thereon, a plurality of pneumatic piston and cylinder devices for moving the plate and the plungers, and timing means for sequentially directing air under pressure into the rst named piston and cylinder devices to ex the knee to bend a length of wire retained thereon and then to direct compressed air to the lastnamed piston and cylinder devices to eject a length of bent wire from the bending means.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,014,599 Kitselman Jan. 9, 1912 1,791,620 Hibbard Feb. l0, 1931 1,928,534 Halkyard Sept. 26, 1933 2,004,409 Hopkins June 11, 1935 2,032,673 Thibierge Mar, 3, 1936 2,086,736 Palmer July 13, 1937 2,279,490 Pearne Apr. 14, 1942 2,453,868 Shaw Nov. 16, 1948 2,485,282 Green Oct. 18, 1949 2,549,061 Dauenhauer Apr. 17, 1951 2,588,062 Vorderstrasse Mar. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 867,035 France May 24, 1940 

